Upgrading My Racing Sim with a Force-Sensitive Keyboard

For sim racing games, as a controller you can use anything from a normal keyboard, a standard controller, or various kinds of racing wheels. With this project, Milos's goal is to design a simple and easy to build analog keyboard which can sense how hard the keyboard switches are being pressed and, based on that, give proportional control for sim racing.

The design falls somewhere between a keyboard and a standard joystick. It uses standard MX switches and small Force Sensitive Resistors for sensing the pressure underneath the keys. It’s all controlled using a Raspberry Pi Pico, and all other parts are 3D printed.

#0:00 Welcome to element14 presents
#0:30 Overview
#2:33 How Does an FSR Work?
#3:53 Analog Switch
#6:23 Testing the Switch
#8:24 The Keyboard
#10:55 The Code
#12:54 Let's Drive!
#15:54 Give Your Feedback

#raspberrypi #raspberrypipico #raspberrypiprojects #racinggames #racinggame #customcontroller #customkeyboard #customkeyboards

[andywest]

This is such a clean build, and I love how the final result looks. Nicely done!

[sonictt]

The PS2 had pressure sensitive buttons. Metal Gear Solid 3 uses them. Would love this as a PS2 controller.

[AmazedStoner]

This feels like a racing sim done wrong. I say this because most people who want a racing sim would rather have a steering wheel and pedals instead of an analog keyboard input. An analog keyboard can have its place in gaming but I don’t believe that it would be for a racing sim. I see a device like this being more useful for a game where driving is an option and important but not the only aspect of the game. GTA V feels like a perfect example as I’ll usually reach for a controller to drive instead of attempting to drive with a keyboard and its digital controls. You seriously lost my interest in watching the video past the overview.